Juniper

Juniperus communis

Juniper

Juniper, which is one of the three native conifers (Scots pine and yew are the others), is a tree associated with the Caledonian pine forest. They don’t grow to any great height but are to be seen interspersed between the Scots pines in the Black Wood of Rannoch. Wherever junipers are found in Scotland they may be considered to be a remnant of the once huge Caledonian forest. If you take the path from the end of Glen Fincastle to Blair Atholl you will encounter juniper in a relatively small patch of Caledonian pine forest as you descend towards Blair Atholl. At Dùn Coillich there are two large old junipers in the Allt Mor gorge and at Balnaguard there is a wood which is unusual in having juniper as its dominant tree. This wood is a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. Balnaguard Glen

As is well know, juniper is used to flavour gin but is an important plant for wildlife. It provides shelter for small birds such as the goldcrest in the winter and the berries are eaten by - fieldfares, song thrushes, mistle thrushes, blackbirds and ring ouzels. The berries yield a brown dye.

Unfortunately juniper is subject to disease caused by Phytophora austrocedrae, a fungus-like organism related to brown algae. There is a centre of infection in the Lake District but probably elsewhere too.